"Gen!" Cloud called running across the house and threw his arms around his brother.
"Hey kid, I missed you." Genesis hugged his brother tight.
"Is Angeal with you?" Cloud asked excitedly.
"Hey now. Who are you happier to see?" Genesis sounded a little hurt.
"You of course!" Cloud laughed.
"You better be. But yes, he's gone to see his mother." Genesis replied.
"Then it's just us for a little bit! Mom went to the market to buy things for dinner. You didn't give us much of a heads up." Cloud explained.
"That's not a bad thing." Genesis said while ruffling his brother's hair. "And we had to scramble to claim the mission. We didn't get much notice either."
"So that's a SOLDIER uniform?" Cloud asked excitedly.
"Yep, 3rd Class, looks good on me doesn't it?" Genesis answered while turning around a bit so his brother could get a better look.
"It looks awesome! Do your eyes really glow in the dark now?" Cloud questioned again.
"A little bit. See come take a look." Genesis replied bending over so Cloud could get a better look at his eyes.
"That is so awesome! I hope I can be a SOLDIER like you some day." Cloud said with a bit of awe in his voice.
"I'm sure you'll make a great SOLDIER one day Cloud." Genesis smiled at his brother.
Genesis sat down on the couch next to Cloud, Angeal sat in a chair across from them. Sephiroth was currently deployed.
"It's been 6 months since your last incident right?" Genesis said with a small smile.
"Yes! It has, I really feel like, well not my old self, but I feel human. I'm hoping I can go back to work soon." Cloud said returning the smile.
"I suppose it's time we told you." Genesis said with a sigh.
"Tell me what?" Cloud looked between Angeal and Genesis.
They had been keeping Cloud in the dark on a lot of things, hoping to keep him focused on getting better. Now however there was no hiding anymore.
"The Turks don't exist anymore Cloud." Genesis said softly.
"What?" Cloud almost screamed. Genesis almost felt guilty at the joy Cloud's distress brought him. It meant he was feeling something.
"They found out about 3 months ago that Rufus, the president's son was funding AVALANCHE, the people that kidnapped you. He was trying to over throw his father. In the aftermath some of the Turks sided with him, but those that knew you, knew what happened, well they went against them. The organization tore itself apart. A lot of people died, Rufus, Veld, and a few of the other Turks. I don't know all their names. I wish I did." Genesis said softly.
"Why...why didn't you tell me?" Cloud asked, tears in his eyes.
"You needed to get better. You were just getting used to your emotions again. I didn't want to risk you shutting down." Genesis answered before running a hand threw Cloud's hair.
"Where are the others? The ones you said sided against them?" Cloud asked hesitantly.
"Tseng, Reno and Rude still work directly for the President as body guards. There was a girl, Cissinei I think was her name and a few others, they were transferred into other divisions." Genesis replied.
"What about me then?" Cloud he was glad to hear his friends had lived, even if so many others had died.
"They've given you the option of a discharge, or joining SOLDIER." Angeal supplied when Genesis remained quiet.
"Why SOLDIER? Why not weapons? Or some other division?" Cloud demanded.
"They didn't give anyone who stayed a choice. They were assigned to what division they could be the most use. The only reason you have the choice of discharge was because of Genesis." Angeal explained.
"I thought you wanted me in SOLDIER." Cloud look to his brother.
"Not like this." Genesis said shaking his head.
"Will you be mad if I join?" Cloud asked scooting closer to Genesis.
"No, because it's your choice. I wanted to give you that after everything. I never really apologized for the way I reacted. " Genesis wrapped his arms around Cloud.
"Thank you. I want to be useful. I wouldn't seem right to just abandon Shinra and everyone in it after all they've done for me." Cloud's voice was soft again.
"Sephiroth said if you decided to join, his offer to train you still stood. " Angeal offered.
"I suppose I should talk to him. I have a SOLDIER's body, just no idea how to use it." Cloud looked to his hands as he spoke.
"We will all help you through it. " Genesis said a bit of relief in his voice. He had already failed once, he was never going to let anyone hurt Cloud again.
"It's nice to finally meet you." Zack said with a smile.
"Same, I remember hearing about the SOLDIER Angeal had taken as an apprentice." Cloud said taking a sip of his drink. It was the first time he'd been out in almost a year.
Now that Cloud had officially been released by the doctors, he was quickly placed into SOLDIER under Sephiroth's tutelage. He remembered thinking back as a child, looking at the recruitment posters, that it would have been a dream come true. Now it was just the end of nightmare.
"You seem a lot more laid back then your brother." Zack commented.
"We would have killed each other by now if I wasn't. Why do you think Angeal and him are best friends?" Cloud said with a small smile.
"I guess that makes sense." Zack replied with a bit of laugh.
"Hey puppy! No stealing my friends!" Reno yelled, throwing his arm around Cloud's neck.
"Cloud can be friends with whoever he wants!" Zack snapped back.
The blond just laughed and pushed Reno's arm off his shoulder. It was obvious Reno had been drinking a bit more then necessary. "We are just talking Reno, your still my best friend."
"Damn right!" Reno said slamming his beer down on the table and taking a seat with Zack and Cloud.
Cloud had been afraid of losing the friendships, family really, that he had forged in the Turks. But these men had fought for him. Those that remained in the building had thrown Cloud a little private party when he had emerged. It was amazing how well he fell back in sync with them. He might be a SOLDIER now, but they'd always be family.
Life wasn't perfect, but it never had been. The piece of his life had been picked up, he just needed his friends and family to help him put them back in place.
This isn't the end to all the little one shots, but it should be the end to the mini plot. -DHT